Clamp-sealed joint construction for aviators&#39; suits



June 3, 1947. J. D. AKERMAN ETAL CLAMP-SEALED JOINT CONSTRUCTION FOR AVIATORS SUITS Filed May 1, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l .Z'n venZor: )Z /wrzm W 393T??? H W June 3, 1947. AKERMAN HAL 2,421,533

CLAMP-SEALED JOINT CONSTRUCTION FOR AVIATORS SUITS Filed May 1, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 3, 1947 OFFICE CLAMP-SEALED JOINT CONSTRUCTION FOR AVIATORS SUITS John D. Akerman and Mihkel Schonberg, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application May 1, 1943, Serial No. 485,318

4 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for forming a sealed joint between two tubular flexible members such as a blouse and trousers or other fabric articles and has particular applicability for use in connecting with sealing effect, parts of a. pressure-applying aviators suit such as 'disclosed in copending application entitled Pressureapplying aviators suit with helmet, Serial No. 478,640, filed March 10, 1943, by John D. Akerman, one of the applicants herein.

The invention has wide general use wherever it is desired to attach two tubular fabric or other fiexible elements through the intermediary of a rigid annulus or where it is desirable to form a gas tight joint between a flexible circumferential edge and a rigid annulus.

In the structure of the above identified application for pressure-applying aviators suit with helmet, such joints are required between the circumferential lower edge of the blouse and the waist band of the trousers as well as in the connection between the neck of the blouse and the helmet receiving ring or channel.

In forming a sealed joint between an annulus and a flexible bag or other tubular member of greater circumference then the rigid member with which it is to be joined, there is always the problem of smoothly clamping the fabric against the rigid annulus to prevent leakage of air or other gaseous medium. In most joints of this type a flexible clamping band or element has been utilized usually causing gathering of the material toward the front or Where the band-like element was tightened.

It is an object of our invention to provide a simple but highly efficient sealed joint construction for connection of flexible tubular members with an annulus and/or with other flexible tubular members wherein the material will not be bunched or folded to cause leakage but will be drawn or gathered quite uniformly producing as near as possible a smooth contacting surface with the annulus as the base.

A further and more specific object is the provision of a sealed joint construction of the type referred to, wherein the usual clamping or flexible element is so encased that as it is tightened around the annulus little actual slipping of the circumferential edge of the fabric takes place, thus providing a more efficient clamping seal.

A further and more specific object is the provision of a sealed joint construction of the class described, wherein a pair of flexible elements are used for tightening and clamping purposes against a rigid annulus and wherein an eflicient mechanism is so combined and related with said flexible clamping elements as to cause said elements to be drawn or tightened in opposite directions, thereby producing as near as possible a uniform gathering of the material in forming the joint.

These and other objects and advantages of our invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the greater portion of a pressure-applying aviators suit for high altitude flying wherein our invention is embodied in certain of the joints formed between portions of the suit;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation with some portions broken away showing the waist band construction for forming a sealing joint between the blouse and trousers of the suit;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view with the blouse detached, some portions of the annulus being broken away to show the interlocking construction of the split end thereof;

Fig. 4 is a detail in side elevation showing a means for locking the split ends of the annulus together;

Fig. 5 is a top fragmentary view of the belt construction showing the connection of the two flexible clamping elements with the toggle construction;

Fig. 6 is a view mostly in horizontal section showing the interlocking of the split ends of the rigid annulus;

Fig. '7 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5 showing the mounting of the toggle carrying plate;

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing one of the hooks and its attachment with one of the ends of the flexible clamping elements;

Fig. 9 is a detail, perspective view showing our toggle tightening mechanism and its mounting;

Fig. 10 is a front elevation showing a sealed joint construction between the tubular neck portion of the blouse of the aviators suit and a receiving ring; and

Fig. 11 is a top view of the clamping means and tightening elements of Fig. 10 removed.

The embodiments of our invention illustrated herein are applied to the waist and neck portions of a pressure-applying aviators suit for high altitude flying although it will, of course, be understood that our sealed joint construction is equally applicable for joining together any flexible tubular member with an annulus or with the end of another flexible tubular member, through the intermediary of an annulus.

In Figs. 2 to 9 inclusive, our improved structure, is shown applied to the waist portion of said pressure-applying aviators suit for joining the lower edge of the blouse with the waist of the trousers to form an air tight joint. We provide a split rigid annulus A of proper dimension to fit the waist of the wearer and, as shown, comprising two hinged sections |5 and I6 respectively pivoted together on a pin disposed above one of the hips of the wearer, said sections being of channel shape with the channels disposed outwardly to form substantially a continuous, peripheral seating zone. We preferably mount strips |5a and |6a of suitable, compressible, sealing material such as sponge rubber, said material, as shown, being adhesively secured to the channels. The split portion of the annulus A, formed by the open extremities of sections I5 and I6 is constructed so that an overlap and interlocking between the two section ends, provides a continuous smooth surface within the channel, and the compressible strips |5a and Mia are mitered at their ends to overlap as clearly shown in Fig. 6. The open end of the channel member I6 is ofiset slightly inwardly to accommodate an interlocking tongue IBb which is adapted to extend beyond the end of the channel member and into a recess provided between the end of the channel section I5 and a plate |5b spaced therefrom and constructed to abut an extension filler plate I60 which is secured to the tongue ||ib and lies substantially flush with the bottom of the channel member l6. Tongue |6b fits between a plate l5b and the end of channel member l5 and is positioned precisely by the abutting ends of the filler plate I60 and the member |5b to align an aperture in said tongue with an aperture in plate l-5b. A spring retaining plate 3 is riveted or otherwise secured at its forward end to channel section l5 and carries adjacent its free end a projecting locking pin |8a which is adapted to extend through the registered apertures in tongue I61) and plate |5b to lock the annulus in operative position. When so looked a smooth continuous surface is formed at the bottom of the channel on and around the annulus A and the two compressible sealing strips |5a and |5b are thus smoothly seated. A small bell crank camming lever l8b is pivoted to the annulus section IS with its shorter camming end disposed for insertion beneath the retaining plate l8 for camming said plate outwardly to disengage pin |8a from the aperture in tongue |6b of the annulus section Hi.

In joining the blouse and trousers together with sealing effect the lower edge B of the blouse and the upper edge of the waist portion T of the trousers are overlapped loosely upon the sealing strips of the annulus and a clamping belt is then superim osed over the joined edges of the garments and tightened against the annulus to secure the said edges and form a sealed joint. As shown in Fig. 3 the waist portions of the trousers are provided in front and rear with a series of suspender supporting tabs S stitched or otherwise secured to the inner fabricof the trousers and having adjacent the upper ends thereof suitable buttons X or other fastening means for engagement with the suspenders.

We provide in combination with the annulus .and sealing strips an improved clamping belt comprising, as shown, a pair of flexible clamping elements which may be in the form of small cables or other relatively non-stretchable flexible members which are disposed side by side, one above the other as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

The upper flexible element 20 has one of its ends attached to an adjustable eye bolt 22a of link 22 which is engageable with a suitable notch 23a of a toggle lever 23. The other end of the flexible element 20 is connected by a terminal loop 20a at one end of a toggle mounting frame or slide indicated as an entirety by the numeral 24. Both of the flexible elements 2|! and 2| (the lower flexible element) are encased within flexible coil springs 25 to facilitate sliding and tightening of the flexible elements without any extensive pulling upon the fabric of the tubular member joined. The coil springs 25 are each of a length to surround the annulus when slightly tensioned.

The two coil springs 23 are preferably encased in a common very flexible casing 26 made of rubber or formed from windings of flexible tape.

The lower flexible element 2| has its end corresponding to the first mentioned end of the first flexible member secured by a hook 2|b to the left end of the mounting or slide 24. Hook 2lb as shown has embedded in the body thereof the looped extremity of the flexible member 2| and detachably engages an appropriately formed apertured portion 24a in the flattened end of the toggle mounting 24.

The toggle mounting or slide 24 may be conveniently constructed from a tubular member having a large central cutout which leaves turned guiding flanges 24b at the top and bottom edges in the medial portion of the mounting for accommodation of the sliding toggle carrying plate 21. The left hand end of the mounting 24, as shown, see Figs. 2 and 9, has a flattened lower corner 240 wherein the aperture 240 is formed for accommodation of the hook 2| b and directly thereabove a guiding portion or top flange 24d for guiding the flexible element 20 in its connection with the eye bolt 22a attached to link 22. The right hand end of the mounting 24, as shown in Fig. 9, is tubularly formed in oval shape cross section to nicely accommodate and guide the right hand ends of the two flexible elements 20 and 2| encased in their respective coil springs and in the exterior common casing 26.

The plate 21 has its right hand end connected with the other end of the lower flexible member 2|. The said connection may be made in any suitable manner such as by passing the end of the lower flexible clamping element 2| through an aperture in the right end of the plate 21 and welding a loop in said end.

The toggle lever 23, it will be noted, may be swung through approximatell and when opened will receive the link 22 in its notch 23a and thereafter draw said link with its connected upper flexible element 20 around the body in one direction and against the fabric of the blouse and trousers. This drawing or clamping of the flexible element 20 through its connection at its opposite end with the toggle mounting or slide frame 24 causes the bite of the element 2| to move and tighten as shown in Fig. 5 in a counterclockwise direction.

As the toggle lever 23 is swung, because of anchorage of the left end of the lower flexible elements 2| with the mounting 24, and because of connection with the flexible element 20 through the intermediary of the toggle lever and plate 21, the slidable plate 21 is moved in clockwise direction in Fig. 5 thereby tightening the lower flexible element 2| and causing the bite of said lower element to move oppositely in its tightening or clamping movement to the movement of the upper tightening member 20. Thus one of the tightening elements compensates for the other in such manner that the belt itself made up of the two elements enclosed in the coil spring cases and housed in the flexible casing 26 contracts uniformly without drawing or bunching the flexible garments or other tubular elements surrounded thereby. The superimposed edges of the two tubular fabric members, (as illustrated, the waist of the trousers and lower edge of the blouse) are thus clamped smoothly and tightly against the annulus, the compressible strips I511 and Mia accommodating any slight gathering or irregularities in the said edges.

As shown in Fig. 2 the blouse B is provided with a longitudinal slide fastener 30 to facilitate slipping the blouse over the head and body of the wearer. This slide fastener with the fabric to which it is attached is accommodated by our clamping belt construction, the yieldable strip l5a in the front section of the annulus accommodating the thickness of the fastener and enabling a gas tight seal to be made throughout the entire circumference of the garment.

In Figs. and 11 a somewhat different embodiment of our sealed joint construction is illustrated, as applied to the neck portion of the blouse B for joining the same with a rigid annulus which detachably receives and secures the helmet of the said pressure-applying aviators suit. As shown in Fig. 10 a rigid annulus 32 of channel iron construction is provided at its peripheral portion with a concave fabric receiving zone or channel which may be covered 'with a thin angle strip of smooth compressible material such as soft rubber 32a. The annulus 32, as shown, carries therein a rubber tube or other compressible sealing member 33 for receiving the lower edge of the helmet of the aviators suit.

The upper marginal edge of the blouse is designed and proportioned to fit the peripheral portion of the annulus 32 and is superimposed thereover as shown having a bead or thickened edge extremity 34 which is disposed above the clamping belt utilized.

As shown in Figs. 10 and 11 our clamping belt comprises a flexible clamping element 35 such as a light cable of a length with the clamping mechanism or take-up attached thereto, to surround the annulus 32. Flexible element 35 is encased as shown in a tubular helical spring 36 which may, if desired, be covered with a tape winding 31. One end of the flexible element 35 is aflixed as shown to the right hand end of a toggle-levermounting 38 which is provided at its ends with tubular socket portions and at its intermediate portion with a forwardly projecting ear or lug 38a to which a toggle lever 39 is pivoted at one of its ends. Toggle lever 39 has a hook or notched portion 39a spaced a short distance from the pivot which is adapted to receive a take-up link 40 having secured to the left end thereof an adjustable fastening element 40a which is in turn threadedly connected with an eye bolt 4| which has. as shown, looped therethrough the terminal loop at the left hand end of cable 35. The two ends of cable 35 are smoothly guided through the tubular end portions 38b of the mounting plate 38. When the toggle lever is swung from its dotted line to full line position, the flexible element is, of course, tightened and clamped tightly against the peripheral sealing area of the annulus 32. In tightening the flexible element, the same slides freely through the encasing coil spring and the circumferential or marginal edge of the blouse is thus tightly clamped with sealed eflect against the annulus, causing an air-proof joint to be effected.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that we have provided a comparatively simple but highly efficient sealed joint construction c apable of very wide general use where it is desired to join a circumferential edge of fabric or other flexible material with a rigid annulus or with a second superimposed circumferential fabric edge.

It will further be seen that with our structure a uniform take-up or contraction is brought about through the combination of the clamping belt disposed in a coil spring casing and particularly in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 2 to 9 inclusive where a pair of flexible clamping elements are utilized interconnected with clamping or toggle take-up mechanism in such manner as to produce drawing or contraction of the two flexible elements in opposite directions, thereby preventing bunching or gathering of the fabric or other flexible material when the joint is made.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of our invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A sealed joint construction for connection with a flexible tubular member having in combination a substantially rigid annulus provided with a peripheral sealing zone for receiving the circumferential portion of a flexible tubular membenjlexible clamping means for surrounding said circumferential portion and sealing the same against said annulus comprising a pair of flexible clamping elements disposed in side-by-side relationship, a toggle clamp comprising a slide, a toggle carrying plate slidably mounted in said slide and having a toggle lever pivoted thereto, a link detachably engageable with said toggle lever for tightening purposes, one of said flexible elements having one of its ends attached to said link and having its other end attached to said slide, the other of said flexible elements having one of its ends attached to said slide and its other end attached to said toggle carrying plate whereby when said toggle lever is engaged with said link and swung to tightening position, said flexible elements are drawn in opposite directions and tightened against said circumferential portion and against said annulus.

2. A joint construction for connection of one or more flexible, tubular members with a rigid annulus, having in combination a pair of flexible clamping elements disposed in side by side relationship and adapted to surround a circumferential portion or portions of one or more tubular members disposed about an annulus and to clamp such portion or portions against said annulus, a mounting member, a sliding member having slidable connection with said mounting member, a takeup mechanism mounted on said sliding membar and adapted for connection with one end of one of said flexible elements, the other end of said last mentioned flexible element being attached to said mounting member, the other of said flexible elements having one of its ends attached to said mounting member and its other end attached to said sliding member whereby when said takeup mechanism is operated, said flexible elements are drawn in opposite directions and tightened against said annulus.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, and a highly flexible, tubular casing surrounding both of said flexible elements.

4. A joint construction for connection of one or more flexible, tubular members with a rigid annulus, having in combination a pair of flexible clamping elements disposed in side by side relationship and adapted to surround a circumferential portion or portions of one or more tubular members disposed about an annulus and to clamp such portion or portions against said annulus, a mounting member, a sliding member having slidable connection with said mounting member, a takeup mechanism mounted on said Sliding member, a link connected with one end of one of said flexible elements and adapted for detachable connection with said takeup mechanism, the other end of said last mentioned flexible element being attached to said mounting member, the other of said flexible elements having one of its ends attached to said mounting member and its other end attached to said sliding member whereby when said takeup mechanism is operated, said 5 flexible elements are drawn in opposite directions and tightened against said annulus.

JOHN D. AKERMAN. MIHKEL SCHON'BERG.

10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 Number Name Date Re. 14,563 Braly Dec. 10, 1918 2,218,903 Bratz Oct. 22, 1940 1,177,509 Gilson Mar. 28, 1916 817,314 Hahn Apr. 10, 1906 20 2,303,927 Fogg Dec. 1, 1942 

